Nancy Was Right

By Craig Crawford | July 9, 2009

CQ

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gets cover from Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon E. Panetta, who has told lawmakers that CIA officials misled Congress "for a number of years" since 2001.

CIA spokesman George Little said "it is not the policy or practice of the CIA to mislead Congress." Mr. Little said the CIA itself "took the initiative to notify the oversight committees" about the lapses.

Earlier this year, Pelosi accused the CIA of misleading her in briefings about the agency's use of waterboarding, an allegation refuted by the agency and challenged by Republicans.

Panetta, who initially challenged Pelosi's version of events, is walking back those claims. Peolosi now gets bragging rights.